The Midwest Collage Society (MCS), founded in 2003, promotes collage as a fine art by providing exhibit opportunities and professional development activities to our 52 members.
Meetings are held at 1710 Plainfield Road, Darien IL, usually the first Sunday of the month from 12:30-2:30pm. No meetings in January and July unless otherwise posted.
Midwest Collage Society celebrates over 100 years of Collage As a Fine Art since 1912.

Also on TuesdaysEffective SketchbookingInstructor: Annamaria Castellucci5:00-7:30pm-8WeeksDaVinci, Rembrandt, Goya Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso and many other maters have used thecreative powers of sketching.Members $112. Non members $126.

Friday's Only a few space left in class!!!Instructor: Laura Lein-Svencner9:30 am to Noon 8wksCollage Exploration IILearning about creating in a series, with collage on watercolor paper or canvas.Members $112. Non Members $126.

At Naperville Art League through the Naperville Park DistrictCollage Exploration I Tuesdays Mid Day 11:30-2:00pmInstructor: Laura Lein-SvencnerAt Naperville Art League through the park district.www. napervilleparks.org8 weeks 165.00Two session in one, first week we will experiment and explore the different ways to create your own collage papers. Second session we will collage with them and learn about image transfers. Sure to be a great class.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Dear MCS members and Guest,The MCS has made a few small changes for our Potluck/Swap meeting in December. We will meet December 7th at 11:00 to 1:30. Our meeting will be held at the Darien Municipal Building 1710 Plainfield Road. There will be no meeting fee collected that day. Please bring something to share as this will be a Luncheon Potluck. The Swap is active while we enjoy our meeting. Members and guest are invited to bring anything they would like to get rid of or share with the rest of the group. It is a great time to socialize and find some wonderful items to put in your next collage. After the meeting we will all be available to travel over to support one of our devoted members Mary Yezek in her ONE Woman show called. "What Matters is on the Inside" National University of Health Sciences, 200 E. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, Reception is held from 1-3pm Dec. 7th.

Monday, November 10, 2008

CHERYL HOLZinvites you to herANNUAL FALL OPEN STUDIOSat. Nov. 22ndViewing, feasting, buying and imbibing will begin at5:30 pm!Bring in your postcards for a chance to win art!drawing at 7 p.m.Gallery 4450 E. Galena, 2nd floor(above Budget Finance)Aurora, IL 60505Hope to see you there!

Visitwww.CherylHolz.comfor more images and information!TO GET THERE:From the East: Take I-88 west to Rte 31. Go south on Rte.31 to Galena. Go left or east on Galena. Cross the river, go over the "north island" in the middle of the Fox River, pass the Paramount Arts Theater- our building is thefirst building east of the east branch of the river, 50 East Galena.Budget Finance is on the first floor, studios are on the second.You do not have to feed the parking meters on Saturday.Call Joyce Reuland at Gallery 44630-801-0818if you get lost on the way.....

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Most of you know that I've been doing Christmas craft shows for the last 30 some years and only began immersing myself into the collage-mix media field five years ago.Although I incorporate many of my former craft supplies into my artwork, I have so MANY, MANY Christmas do-dads, ribbons, ornaments, decorations and the like, I need to get them used in some creative endeavor. Because of that I'm hosting a CHRISTMAS COLLAGE CREATION weekend here at my house on Saturday and Sunday, November 22 and 23.

*on Saturday, November 22, from 9:30-12:30 come create your own ABUNDANTLY DECORATED CHRISTMAS TREE. I have a 12" artificial tree for each of those attending, as well as a tremendous amount of Christmasy and/or collaging supplies to transform them into one of a kind works of art!!! I only ask you to bring a glue gun with extra glue sticks because that will be our main adhesive. Also bring along any embellishments that you yourself might want to add to your tree.

*on that Saturday afternoon from 2-5 we'll be creating our own CHRISTMAS ANGEL OR FAIRY on a 14" muslin doll. Again I have all the supplies you'll need unless you have your own favorite fabric or embellishments. It would be helpful to bring a glue gun and possibly a sewing shears to class, although I have several to share. These dolls will hopefully carry the qualities of Love, Peace and Joy to your holidays.

*on Sunday afternoon, the 23rd, from 1-4 we'll be COLLAGING CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS. I've got paper mache and wooden shapes galore for each to make a small collection of ornaments for yourself or for gifts. Bring along a brush and a bottle of gel medium or decoupage glue for adhering papers.

I'll take 10 participants per class so that there's enough room for each participant to have a comfortable space to work at. These are adult classes so those attending must be at least 16 years young. Cost is $15 per class or $40 for all three.

Call me at 630-833-0125 , email (m.warner5@sbcglobal.net), or write (220 E. Highland, Villa Park, IL 60181) to reserve a place in any or all of the classes. Your place will be confirmed, however, only when your payment is received - (Cash please or check made out to Family Traditions).

For any who would like to attend but cannot, I will be happy to set up any of these three hour classes at your convenience IF you bring at least 2 more friends with you at $15 a person.

***Theres' a discount for anyone attending all three classes - $40 for all three.

And for those coming for both classes on Saturday, bring a sandwich if you'd like to stay put.Hope you can join us!

Monday, November 3, 2008

The MCS has made a few small changes for our Potluck/Swap meeting in December. We will meet December 7th at 11:00 to 1:30. Our meeting will be held at the DarienMunicipal Building 1710 Plainfield Road. There will be no meeting fee collected that day. Please bring something to share as this will be a Luncheon Potluck. The Swap is active while we enjoy our meeting. Members and guest are invited to bring anything they would like to get rid of or share with the rest of the group. It is a great time to socialize and find some wonderful items to put in your next collage. After the meeting we will all be available to travel over to support one of our devoted members Mary Yezek in her ONE Woman show called. "What Matters is on the Inside" National University of Health Sciences, 200 E. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, Reception is held from 1-3pm Dec. 7th.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Mary Yezek, Invites you to "Not outsider art-Insider (envelope)Art" at the National University of Health Sciences 200 E, Roosevelt Road Lombard, IL ~Reception is Dec 7th,1-3pm. The artwork will be exhibited for the months of December and January.

www.SEAConference.com 9th Annual Self Empolyment in the Arts, Feb 27th-28th, Hilton Hotel-Lisle, IL the conference is all about professional developement for artists. And Much more. Keynote speaker is Tony Fitzpatrick, well know Chicago Artist.

As you can see in this image the tissue paper becomes transparent and you can see the image underneath very nicely.

Ann Coats the surface with acrylic medium and the places an area she has stamped over the image. Make sure the stamped paper is dry first.

Mary's Granddaughters stamp was used in the demo. What a wonderful job she did carving out the design in the foam.

Clean up is a breeze! No really with a tooth brush and water scrub the acrylic off and let the stamp dry a bit before using again.

Ann is stamping on the tissue paper, she brushes on the acrylic with a mixture of the acrylics to create unique color patterns. Some times she switches the stamp around to make interesting patterns. http://www.ccpvideos.com/page/CCP/CTGY/SUP (Artist Tissue Papers)

Ann mixes a little methyl cellulose to help the acrylic spread easier working on a freezer paper surface so the artist tissue paper doesn't stick and clean is easy.

Laura's stamp is carved out, adding a little extra to it. Ann is showing us how she carve the foam on a bevel to get the best cuts. You will have to work little by little to get the foam cut but it makes for a great stamp. You don't have to cut out your design on the paper but do draw it on the foam block. With a very sharp blade start carving out on a bevel the foam. Not very easy but if you have a new blade it works much better. Foam is purchased at Jo Ann Fabrics or any craft store, make sure it's 1/4 thick. glue it to a wooden block with Liquid Nails. It is water proof. Let dry before using.http://craftsuppliesforless.com/kidscraftsupplies_foamsheets.html ( just so you have an idea of what the foam sheets look like. They should be 1/4'' thick on the thinner sheets of foam it doesn't work as well)

View finder set to Image for design. Trace your foam block on a sheet of paper, draw out your design from the view finder.

copyright images which can also be used with the view finder for designs.

Samples of Ann's papers and work.

Magazines and copyright free imagery.

View finders/slide holders are used to help find images out of magazine pages for designs.

Our fearless leader Tania Blanco has been recovering at home, she would be proud of her group of ladies. We keep getting new faces and more ideas are spring up all over the place. We wish you well Tania and hope you will be on your feet very soon and back to normal.

Collage member Cynthia Lee will be exhibiting her artwork in the Streeterville Artisan Market Nov 7-8th at Northwestern University Lurie Center, 303 E. Superior, Chicago, Lobby. Stop by and say Hi see the wonderful works Cynthia as be doing lately. Free to everyone Over 50 artists. artisans@soarchicago.org

November 7th Evening event is a benefit for SOAR "Streeterville Organization of Active Residents", Admission of $45.00 with drinks and appetizers and music!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

NOVEMBER Sunday, November 2Darien Municipal Center 1710 Plainfield Road, DarienAnn Hupke will present a workshop on stampmaking. You will need to bring an X-acto Knifeand extra blades and a pair of cuticle scissors. Don't miss this one! Meetings of the MCS are held in the Training Room of the Darien Municipal Center, 1710 Plainfield Road, Darien. Meetings are generally the first Sunday of each month from 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted, and there is a fee of $5.00 per attendee.

Water base printing ink but this process can also be used with an oil base ink. Water base is use when working with children. But a steady printer my want to use a oil base which can be cleaned up with baby oil on your plexi surface. The print is from a photograph Nancy took of everyone and was layed over the ink. The Water base ink will dry out faster and you my have to reink the surface under the image. Gale is showing us that the plexi glass is inked up and her paper is next with the photo of herself taped to the top. She will line it up and start printing. Gale is using different tools to etch in the paper just enought to pick up the inks on the print paper in the reverse. Here Gale is checking her image and thinking about re-ink the surface of the plexi glass.

Nancy S. took quick digital photo's of all of us and then printed out an image and that image is layed out under the thin sheet of plexi glass.

The Higgins water base ink was used for the next printing process Photo or image underneather the sheet of plexi and the paper is taped to the edge, creating a hinge effect. You work in small lines and flop our paper and blot it persay and then go back and using a nib and pen holder you dip the into the ink and continue small lines at a time. The water base inks dry fast, that's why you hinge it and work small and fast. This is Rose's Photo image she is working on. Joan's Puffer bird she is working on.And Mary's Granddaughter, Sarah, is working on her's. Her finished piece is the first photo in the line here posted.

Sandy takeing a peek to see how your impress worked in the Terra cota clay with the oil base inks.

MCS members gathered around the table as Nancy S. gives a demo on the different printing processes available to incorrporate in to collage. Work station is set up to use three different colors, old phone book for blotting the ink from the brays. Clay tools to carve into the the slab of clay. Nancy S. has just finished making some impression in to the class and inking up the slab. Here are some Japanese maple leaves which makes a great impress. Gale's print, what a great success. After making some impression with plastic Onion bags and the Japanese maple leaves, you then lay a sheet of paper on the clay and rub the surface, by hand or with the rolling pin. After your done with the clay surface use a scraping tool to scrap off the oil ink surface. Freshing up the terra cota slab and your ready to go again.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Midwest Collage Society would like to announce Award winner of the Alphabetica II Exhibit at the Indian Prairie Public Library, 401 Plainfield Road, Darien. Exhibit will be up from Sept 1-28th, Reception will be Sunday September 28th from 2-4pm.

Judge for this exhibit was Annette Perone Leiber1st-Eve Ozer for "Eden"2nd-Laura Lein-Svencner for "N"2nd-Mary Yezek for "Clock Face"3rd-Mary Warner for "Architecture VI"3rd-Denise Grzyb for "Ebony and Ivory"3rd-Sarah Ettinger for "Eeee's"Honorable Mention-Barbara Pompei-Boland for "Quilted & Quartered"Honorable Mention-April Schabes for "Object D'Art"Honorable Mention-Ann Hupke for "Untitled"Honorable Mention-Sylvia Koch for "S is for Secret"

Judge Annette Perone Leiber's comment -Excellent show! It is very inspirational to me as an artist to see the imagination a variety of techniques used. A lot of substance went into each piece and all should be proud of their work.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

UPCOMING MEETINGSSEPTEMBERNOTE special day and timeOur September meeting will be held on Saturday,September 6. We’ll meet at 10:30 a.m. atStarbucks, 750 N. Franklin St., Chicago (corner ofFranklin and Chicago Avenue). The River NorthArt Dealers Association will conduct a 1½-hourtour of local art galleries. If you missed our tourlast year, be sure to catch this one!

OCTOBERSunday, October 5Darien Municipal Center,1710 Plainfield Road, DarienNancy Staszak will conduct a workshop onPrintmaking Techniques. She has some new andinteresting ideas to show us. Please bring a fewthings:1. Protective clothing2. Simple images for trace monotypes3. Grasses or leaves for splatter-screen printing4. Smooth papers to print on (Nancy will bringsome to share)5. Newsprint and/or wax paper to carry workhome

NOVEMBERSunday, November 2Darien Municipal Center1710 Plainfield Road, DarienAnn Hupke will present a workshop on stampmaking. You will need to bring an X-acto Knifeand extra blades and a pair of cuticle scissors.Don't miss this one!

Meetings of the MCS are held in the Training Room of the DarienMunicipal Center, 1710 Plainfield Road, Darien. Meetings aregenerally the first Sunday of each month from 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. unlessotherwise noted, and there is a fee of $5.00 per attendee.

Letter from the PresidentI hope all of you are enjoying the summer as it marches towards cooler weather and for some of us moreroutine schedules as our offspring head back to school.Our August all-day workshop meeting was a great success because we had a record 13 members and guestsparticipating with two of the visitors being young women heading to college. They were somewhatoverwhelmed with the enthusiasm and activity of the members that brought mounds and mounds of materialsand supplies. Before long they were cutting, combining, gluing etc. There were plenty of mentors for themto watch and learn from. All of us learned at least one new technique or use of some scrap. The swap tableswere piled high with many goodies.Our upcoming exhibit at the Indian Prairie Library in Darien is our last scheduled exhibit of the year and wehave a judge who will be selecting award winners. She is Annette Perone Leiber, from the Addison ArtGuild. Annette is herself a mixed media and collage artist and tells me that if she weren’t already a memberof several art guilds she would be a member of the MCS. The winners of the library exhibit will be eligibleto participate in the 2009 Best of the Best exhibit.We look forward to having you join us for the September outing to the galleries of River North. Mark it onyour calendar and note it is on a Saturday instead of Sunday.Tania BlancoPresident, MCS

Sunday, August 24, 2008

There was a little confusion about the drop off for Alphabetica II, so here are the revised details.

1. All artist will drop off work August 30th between the hours of 10-12 noon. Please make arrangement with other members if you can not drop off yourself.2. Hanging will be done from 12-2pm no late drop offs please.3. All artist will have to fill out title cards,4. Please bring a writen or typed sheet with name, phone number, title of work size and price.5. Laura and Connie will be hanging the show but we do need a couple of volunteers to help with check in and the drop off. 6. If you can volunteer please be at library at 9:45am7. We have extra postcards to hand out as the reception isn't till September 28th from 2-4pm. 8. I will be checking with the library as of the pick up day would work better for us if we took them home that day of September 28th which is a Sunday after the reception. More detail will be coming about this.9. There is a elevator.

If you have any quesiton please contact me by email lonecrow4@comcast.net or phone 630-655-4492And I'm sorry to say that we can not contact every member with out an email so if you know of a member please pass this along. Thank you. Sorry for the short notice.Exhibit Com.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Alphabetica II, an exhibit of collages and assemblages by members of theMidwest Collage Society. Each artist selected a letter of the alphabet and createda unique work based on individual interpretations. The group received aninvitation by Indian Prairie Library after a successful exhibit at Downers GroveLibrary in 2007.Dates: Work on display September 1-30, 2008 during library hoursReception Sunday, Sept. 28 from 2pm to 4pmLocation: Indian Prairie Library, 401 Plainfield Road, Darien, Illinois 60561630-887-8760

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Dear Members and any one else interested if you would like to automatically be reminded of the happenings of Midwest Collage Society sign up for the subscribe on the side bar and you will receive posts and comments. thank you

All Day Workshop to create 3-D assemblage 9-4 pm"Spend the first Sunday in August brushing up on your three dimensional skills. Bring along a shadow box, a cigar box, a drawer, or a found piece of wood, metal etc. Take an old piece of art and alter it or combine it with another to create a third dimension. Boxes, frames will be available to share. Don't forget to bring glues, drills, screws, and other tools to put together a multitude of objects. Learn and be inspired by others' work. Inspire others with your own pieces.Pack a lunch or plan to visit a local restaurant and bring snacks to share. Show and tell and critique opportunities. And don't forget, a table will be set aside to swap unwanted supplies. Bring references that inspire you, to share with others. http://www.blancoart.blogspot.com/http://midwestcollagesociety.blogspot.com/

Friday, June 27, 2008

Laura Lein-Svencner collage artist is......Preparing for a Demonstration at Dick Blick's Tomorrow in the Wheaton Store at 79 Danada Square East. Laura will be giving a demonstration on the processes she goes through in creating her collage work. She will show us all the many different ways to alter found papers like maps, old book pages, magazines and the use of the heat seal iron to seal all the papers into place and the use of images and photo transfers. Lein-Svencner will be presenting this demonstation at 11:00 till 1:00 pm. Stop by and take a peek at the new ways collage is being approached. or visit her site and blog at www.lauralein-svencner.com, http://lonecrowart.blogspot.com,http://www.lonecrowgallery.com If interested in a demo or workshop please email her at lonecrow4@comcast.net.

Fiber & Textile Art AwardThe Midwest Fiber & Folk Art Fair is pleased to announce that we will be giving out the first Fiber & Textile Art Award this year at the fair! The award will be $2,000 to be used for tuition for an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Fiber Arts or Textile Arts. This award is being administered by the Northwest Area Arts Council, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization. NAAC administers other scholarships as well. It is made possible by a generous donation from Toni Neil of The Fold. Here is the challenge: We have only until June 30th 2008 to find candidates for the award! WE NEED YOUR HELP! Will you please tell EVERYONE you know about this award? Post it at your places of employment, put it in your newsletters, blogs, forums, lists, tell your church organizations, guilds, clubs, golf buddies, etc, etc and even possibly email it to your friends? Then ask all of them to do the same? You never know where you will find a fiber arts fanatic! Complete information and the application can be found on the web site at FiberAndFolk.com. I know--I put it up there myself just this evening! (If it doesn't show as the first item on the home page, hit your refresh button). Thanks and plan to come and see the first one given away on Sunday, July 20th! See you at the fair! (46 days and counting)! Carol Carol Cassidy-FayerMidwest Fiber & Folk Art FairJuly 18, 19, 20, 2008Join Us at the Fair!FiberAndFolk.com

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Our membership working hard at assembling our 2008-2009 Directories. The box of directories. Busy working on our soul collages. A moment to share ideas and reflect. Looking great for images.

Re cap on the June 1st meeting. Our membership invited Kathy Boe to do a mini workshop on Soul Collage. I know that we all jump in and started cutting away, eager for more. We'll have to set up another session soon. We also were able to assemble our directory which are printed up bi annual. No meeting in July but look for more detail coming up for August meetings.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Alliance of Fine Art is sponsoring a juried fine art exhibition July 22 through August 23, 2008 at the historic national landmark, Mayslake Peabody Estate, Oak Brook, Illinois. The “Restoration” theme of the exhibit ties in with the restoration of Mayslake Peabody Estate, host to many theater, music, lectures and workshops. Entry date is July 19.The Alliance of Fine Art is a non-profit, professional association of fine art organizations formed to advance fine art education and promote the arts. For Prospectus and entry form please go to: www.allianceoffineart.com

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Sylvia M Koch would like to know if everyone that made some paper at the last meeting would be so kind to bring your piece back in so we can set them on a side table to a good look see. With the way things were and clean up it was hard to see what everyone made. Look forward to seen you all on June 1st 1:30-4:00 for Soul Collage at the 1710 Plainfield Road, Darien.

I think Mat board,glue and scissor are going to be need with magazines check the blog for more info or you latest newsletter.

SUNDAY, JUNE 1, 2008Kathy Boe will present our June program “SoulCollage.” Visit www.soulcollage.com for somehistory of the subject. Something completely newand different!Bring the following items:Several 5x8” pieces of mat board, a glue stick,scissors and magazines.NO MEETING IN JULY

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Gallery Opening for Seniors!Hello Artists, I am a member of Gallery 659 in Glencoe. We are hosting an Art Open for artists 65 and over in August. Entries are due June 30. For prospectus, see: http://www.gallery659.org/mature_audiences_prospectus.pdf If you are under 65, please pass this along to artists in the appropriate age group who you think may be interested. Please feel free to contact the gallery (or me) with any questions. Thank you! JudithJudith Joseph 1215 Wendy Drive, Northbrook, IL 60062 847-204-4043 judithstudio@yahoo.com http://www.judithjosephstudio.com

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Midwest Collage Society member, Nancy Staszak has an exhibit at the Indian Prairie Public Library for the Month of May, Located on Plainfield and Clarendon Hills Road in Darien Ill. Stop by during Library hours.

Phase VI, 4ArtInc Gallery 1932 S. Halsted, Chicago Il. Will have it's Opening Reception May 9th from 6-10pm. The Gallery is located in the Pilsen area, Chicago Art District. Stop in and meet the artist and view there work. Midwest Collage Society Artists Laura Lein-Svencner will be exhibit a few piece of her work there also.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Sylvia couching a sheet of cotton rag plup to the cotton board Sylvia stamping the objects in to the wet sheet of freshly formed paper. Embossed images Spraying with natural dye's from Twinrocker's Members ready to get started on there projects. Sylvia gave a wonderful demo and we were so excited to give it a try.

Writing Artist Bio

How to write an Artist CV

MCS Exhibit Book

The Midwest Collage Society has a book of their last Exhibit, Balance-Off Balance, Curator Robin Rios of 4Arts Inc and Co-Curator of Zhou B. Art Center present this exhibit of Midwest Collage Society work.
http://www.blurb.com/b/4589204-off-balance-balance

Members

The MCS has over fifty members from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Most members reside in the Chicago area. All members are professional artists who exhibit regularly in urban and suburban galleries. Many exhibit in other states, and a few exhibit internationally. The backgrounds of our members are varied, and range from those with graduate training in the fine arts to the self-taught. Many work in fields outside of the art-related professions. The diverse experience of our members is one of the Midwest Collage Society's greatest assets, and has contributed to our growth.

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Ode to Collage Artists

We walk around always looking down,Searching for things to pick up off the ground.Leaves and paper or bits of string,We can use just about anything.While others may watch us and shake their head,We just cram the stuff in our pockets and forge on ahead.Home we go can't wait to start, what would we do if we didn't love Art?We empty our pockets to peruse all our treasures, amazed this junk gives us great pleasures.We crumple and tear, we sand and we paint, And we can't forget the glues and paste.Amazed with the things we can create from someone else waste.When were done some will say we just made it look old, But when we look upon it, All we see is Gold!

by Debbie Wojnarowski

More Details please contact this blog manager at lonecrow4@gmail.com

History

The Midwest Collage Society (MCS), founded in 2003, promotes collage as a fine art by providing exhibit opportunities and professional development activities to our members.

Meetings and Dues

MCS generally meets on the first Sunday of each month (excluding January and July), from 12:30 to 3:00 PM in Darien, IL. Since many members live well beyond this area, the MCS uses its newsletter, group website, and regular e-mail communication to provide all members with timely information about planned exhibits and program content. Annual dues are twenty dollars ($20.00). Members also pay nominal fees for meeting workshops and exhibit entries. Membership dues are payable in April of each year.

Meetings are held at the Darien Municipal Center, 1710 Plainfield Road, Darien, IL.